Honours shared on Day 1

Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers shared a 161-run fifth-wicket stand, and Muttiah Muralitharan picked up five scalps, as South Africa were bowled out for 361 in the last over of Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, on a bouncy pitch which seemed to do a trick here and there, South Africa were in trouble early on, being reduced to 70-4 in the first session. However, the pair of Prince and de Villiers counterattacked and thus balanced out the honours for the day.

Prince and de Villiers both batted superbly against the threat of Muralitharan, but they were denied of their tons, as they fell for 86 and 95 respectively. Shaun Pollock followed up with an enterprising 50, helping the visitors past the 300 mark, and remaining not out at the end of the innings.

Earlier in the morning, Chaminda Vaas made a productive comeback after an injury, picking up a wicket – that of Herschelle Gibbs, trapped in front – with only his second delivery. Lasith Malinga followed the act up in the fourth over with the wicket of Andrew Hall, who outside-edged an out-swinger to the slips.

Jacques Rudolph, who scored a ton last match, was the next to go, when he was bowled off a full-length inswinger from Malinga, for 13. Hashim Amla led the fightback after the early setbacks with a quick-fire 40, however, failed to continue. He was out leg before to Muralitharan, with the score on 70-4, which was when de Villiers joined Prince.

Sri Lankans broke the partnership after tea though, as Muralitharan had Prince caught behind. Malinga came back to pick up de Villiers soon after, caught behind again, but in what looked to be a very dubitable decision.

Mark Boucher spent some time at the crease too, sharing a decent partnership with Pollock, but was out off Muralitharan, dragging the ball back onto his stumps. The remaining wickets tumbled quite quickly, although Pollock did go past his 50.

South Africa 361 all out
AG Prince 86, AB de Villiers 95, SM Pollock 57*
SL Malinga 3-81, M Muralitharan 5-128